The committee's
report, along with
Jamie Oliver's Childhood obesity strategy, also just released, make a series of recommendations including tougher controls on marketing and advertising of unhealthy food and drink, reformulation and labelling, and a sugary drinks tax with proceeds helping children most in need or at risk.
Ben Reynolds, Deputy Coordinator of Sustain, commented:
“The Government needs to be 'big, bold and brave' in its strategy to tackle obesity, and the Health Select Committee's report is the latest to say it. Public Health England, the health and medical professions, and now this committee of politicians have looked at the evidence and made very similar recommendations. All of them call for a sugary drinks tax, and for stronger regulation on advertising, marketing and reformulation; policies which through our Children’s Food Campaign we have been championing for years. To ignore these calls now, with the weight of evidence and the breadth of support behind them, and their proven potential for improving the health of the nation and its finances - would raise doubts over the Government's commitment to taking meaningful action."
For press enquiries on Sustain's position and campaigns, please contact:
Ben Reynolds
07939202711
ben@sustainweb.org
Malcolm Clark
07733 322148
malcolm@sustainweb.org